Clifton Park Primary raises Aboriginal Flag for first time to celebrate NAIDOC Week

Clifton Park Primary School has begun it’s NAIDOC Week celebrations by raising the Indigenous Flag for the first time in the schools history. The students and teachers as well as invited guest gathered on Monday morning to begin their NAIDOC Week celebrations due to the national week falling during school holidays, as the educators wanted the weeks observance to be included in the third terms’ curriculum. The school welcomed Indigenous Elders including Dennis Jetta to deliver a Welcome to Country, with Max Jetta leading a Smoke Ceremony before Mr Jetta and students raised both the Australian National Flag and the Indigenous Flag. School Principal Tanya Uren said the school wanted to emphasise the importance of Indigenous recognition and respect to its students. “We thought it really important to increase our cultural recognition and understanding, as our staff have been covering it in our curriculum,” she said. “But we thought we need to do more and as a community we decided that raising the flag was really important, but we had to do it right. We had to get the local Elders to show respect with them with the ceremony, and that we we will continue to work with our Elders and increase our understanding of our Noongar heritage,” Ms Uren said. Ms Uren said the students input and drive for a more inclusive school was a big reason for the celebrations seen at the school. “I know our graduating Year 6’s wanted an Indigenous design on their graduation shirts. So that’s what we’re going to do, our next step is to reach out to some local Noongar artist and see if we can get some more Indigenous designs across the school.” “And we’d like to go along the way of dual naming, get some recognition,” Ms Uren said. The school will continue it’s NAIDOC celebrations all week, culminating with a visit on Friday from the Aboriginal Rangers program in the Parks and Wildlife Service.